What Kayak Rack and Bed Extender do You Recommend When Using the Access Lorado # A53VR?

Published 04/13/2022

Products Featured in This Question

Access Lorado Soft, Roll-Up Tonneau Cover

(49)

$560.15

Adarac Pro Series Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack - Aluminum - Matte Black - 500 lbs

(47)

$633.60

Adarac Pro Series Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack - Aluminum - Silver - 500 lbs

(47)

$633.60

Adarac M-Series Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack - Aluminum - Matte Black - 500 lbs

(6)

$510.30

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(23)

$284.11

etrailer Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Clamp On

(219)

$129.99

Rhino-Rack T-Load Hitch Mounted Load Assist and Support Bar for 2" Hitches - 49" Long

(508)

$359.99

Yakima LongArm Truck Bed Load Extender - 2" Hitches - Aluminum - 300 lbs

(162)

$298.95

Yakima HitchLock for Yakima Hitch Mounted Bike Racks - Same Key System (SKS)

(491)

$28.95

Question:

I was hoping to have a crossbar that fit closer above the liner to where the kayak would sit above the truck bed cover and extending out on the truck bed extender. The tip of the kayak would be behind the back glass instead of over the cab. Hope that makes sense. Do you have something like this? I am looking for a drill-free solution.

asked by: Candice

Expert Reply:

Yes! You can use both a kayak rack and a truck bed extender on your 2021 Jeep Gladiator with the Trail Rail system.

Since the Access Lorado Soft, Roll-Up Tonneau Cover # A53VR leaves the stake pockets completely open, you will be able to install a way to install a kayak rack like a stake-pocket mounted ladder rack. As long as the rack uses only the stake pockets without any clamps onto the bed rails, the rack is compatible with the cover. Since the Access Lorado rack is a roll-up style, the absolute best option is the Adarac Pro Series Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack # A38ZR (matte black) or # A58ZR (silver). The reason why this ladder rack is the best is because the uprights stand straight up instead of angling inward. With this factor, there won't be any rubbing of the cover against the bases when opening and closing. Also, since the crossbars are only 1-1/2" wide x 1-1/2" tall, they are compatible with many clamp-on style kayak carriers such as the etrailer Kayak Carrier # e98878.

For your truck bed extender, I assume you are looking to use it for a kayak since you want to have the tailgate closed. If this is the case, I recommend using the Rhino-Rack T-Load # RTL002. The T-Load comes with an adjustable height of 42" - 64" to match the height of the ladder rack. It has a 165 pound maximum weight capacity and comes with a sling system and load stops for a kayak.

If you need a compatible hitch receiver for the T-Load, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" # C74DR. This fits both Rubicon and non-Rubicon models and is also compatible with diesel and non-diesel Gladiators. The installation is super easy and only takes about 30 minutes to complete. It comes with all hardware required for installation. Since the shank of the T-Load is 8-1/2 inches long from the center pinhole to the upright mast, you should not have any bumper clearance issues when using it with the hitch.

expert reply by: Bob C

Yakima LongArm # Y01149 Height Options (with minimum crossbar height)
(click to enlarge)

Candice

1/1/0001

Bob C.

4/13/2022

For a lower-profile, drill-free solution, the best route is to use a lower-profile stake-pocket mounted rack like the Adarac Aluminum M-Series Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack - Aluminum # A77ZR. This model has all of the features of the Pro Series except it is much lower profile. It only sits 12 inches above the box rails. Also, like the Pro Series, the uprights are completely adjustable anywhere along the bed. As far as the bed extender, you can still use the T-Load, but you need to make sure that you have the proper height from your hitch to the top of the M-Series rack. In order to determine this, you need to measure from the center of your hitch pinhole of the hitch to 12 inches above your Gladiator's bed. As long as that measurement falls within 42" - 64", you can still use the T-Load. If, by chance, that measurement is shorter, the best bet is to use Yakima LongArm Truck Bed Load Extender - 2" Hitches - Aluminum # Y01149. Of course, this depends also on the length of your kayak. This extender has a few different height options that are less than the minimum extension of the T-load. I went ahead and added a picture that shows all of the height options. For added theft-deterrence with the LongArm, I recommend using the hitch lock # Y07235.